Having pre-school children doesn’t mean you have to put an end to your national or international travels. Many parents fear to vacation with their kids abroad as they feel the trip will be a perpetual horror show of worries, exhaustion, limited schedule, little to no fun, and endless tantrums.

However, psychology experts tell us that traveling with kids can also be entertaining and easy – as long as you prepare everything ahead and follow some important rules. You must know that the younger the children are when they start to travel, the better they will develop as teenagers and adults from all points of view. So let’s see a few parenting and travel tips to make the best out of your holiday with the little ones!

1. Pack Smart

Pack Smart

Carrying luggage and children through airports, bus rides, and hotel lobbies may be a nightmare if you don’t pack the smart way. Travel experts recommend that one parent carries most of theluggage, while the other parent can hold on to the child/children while carrying a smaller burden. This means you both need your hands as free as possible and manage to bring the entire family’s belongings into two bags. In order to achieve this goal, you should consider two large, solidoutdoor canvas backpacks for men to carry everything you need.

Also, make sure the children understand that packing and traveling are true explorers’ adventures and very serious tasks they have to get ready for. If you turn your packing process into a game, you will see they will not only comply, but get excited to accompany you.

2. Pick the Flight Right

Pick The Flight Right

When you book a flight, make sure the departure hour is close to your child’s bedtime – in case you travel to far away destinations that involve many hours in the air. If the child naturally falls asleep on the plane, you will start your vacation on the right foot. Here are more flying tips to consider:

Get plane seats that allow you to reach the bathroom fast and not disturb anyone.

If the plane is not full, try to get a row only for your family.

If you need to change diapers on theflight, put everything you need in a plastic bag that you can keep at hand. Thus you can only take the plastic bag to the bathroom and not the entire backpack.

Get prepared for anything that might disturb the child: a pacifier for take-off and high altitude (if he still uses it), a cap and a jacket in case it gets cold, the favorite toy to keep him entertained – have them as close at hand as possible and easy to pull out and put back in the backpack.

3. Child’s Routine Has to Be Integrated into Your Routine

You arrived in a fabulous summer resort or a foreign city, and you want to take everything in and enjoy a much-needed vacation. But how about the little ones? They need to feel as cozy and happy as they do at home. This is why you need to integrate your usual routines in your vacation: meal times and sleep times, bedtime story moment, play time, quiet time, and so on. If you manage to naturally integrate these familiar routines, the child will feel more comfortable and able to make it through a day of sightseeing.

4. Book an Apartment instead of a Hotel Room

If your child is too small to eat local food or if you need to prepare snacks, bottles, breakfast, and so on, you should book an apartment with a kitchen. This is a good way also to save money as you can pick up fresh local produce and cook them just the way the kids need and like to eat.

Moreover, an apartment with at least another room allows parents to get some rest in turns or the child to have some playing space. Jet lag, a bad night’s sleep, some muscle soreness, a headache (in adults and children alike) can all be better managed in a wider space that allows intimacy and helps alleviate the stress.

An incredible travel experience and an adventure can also be offered to children: shop for their favorite foods at a local market, teach them about gastronomy, and let them help you with cooking.

5. Travel for Longer Periods of Time

Travel for Longer Periods of Time

A week trip for two may be enough to visit major touristic attractions in a place, have some fun, enjoy a party and some shows and get a nice tan. But when you travel with kids, the time could easily double. You may want to use half a day not sightseeing, but having a picnic in a park so the children can play and enjoy some rest. You may also need a full day of not leaving the apartment but spend time on the terrace enjoying the view or watching the child’s favorite animations on your laptop. There shouldn’t be any rush in traveling with kids as they too need to have fun, rest and enjoy the new experience. And you should also go where they want to go.